Year: 2008

Happy new year to all. Here’s hoping 2009 treats the Warriors a bit better than 2008. Will the Warriors go out with a bang or whimper against the OKC Thunder? Whatever the final hours of the year bring, discuss it below.

Virginia Woolf once wrote “On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points.” I’m not entirely sure whether we’re the people pointing at the Warriors’ agony or whether we’re wrapped up inextricably with it, at the business end of someone else’s index finger. Regardless, even with the agony of losing seasons, there are occasional respites. Like those rare times when Jamal Crawford’s man dribbles off his knee out of bounds rather than blowing by him to the hoop, the Warriors were given an opponent they could handle on Monday night. The 117-111 win over the slumping Raptors had its encouraging moments, but no matter how hard I try I can’t quite suppress that gnawing frustration when the Kirk Humphries of the league take us for double digits during crunch time. Here’s the little comfort I’m taking from the game:

Good defense tends to come about in one of two ways. Coaches can demand it. Nelson already admitted recently that he wasn’t forcing his players to lock down. It remains to be seen whether Smart and Moncrief can do a better job. Alternatively, rather than wait for coaches to impose defense from above, some players possess the special ability to commit themselves so fully to the defensive effort that their hustle and grit proves to be infectious. The Warriors haven’t come down with a full blown case of defensive fever yet, but let’s hope that the rest of the team catches the bruising, fearless, intense effort by Ronny Turiaf at the rim and around the key. Turiaf was the unsung hero Friday night in the Warriors 99-89 shock win against the Celtics. And for a team desperately in need of leadership, Turiaf’s heroics combined with the return of a more rested, healthy and focused Jackson couldn’t have come at a better time.

I’ve spent much of the last week (or it least it feels like it) sitting in the infamous traffic of Delhi India. It was very easy for me to look at the map and see the line connecting point A to point B. Traversing that line, however, was another story. Curiously, for all the time inhaling gas fumes, the causes of the various gridlocks usually remained a mystery. An accident hours earlier, a stalled tut-tut towed away, or some animal wandering into the road for a spell — whatever the root cause, it had usually disappeared, leaving only lingering chaos in its place, by the time I rolled through. As Warriors fans, we’re familiar with pile-ups of ugly losses and the lurching deceleration of a team losing focus. But while we can see and experience the effects, we’re often left only the guess at what cause long before has left us idling at the back of the pack, sucking exhaust fumes.

The Warriors are better than the Bobcats. Whatever solace we can take in that, let’s enjoy it. I’m still off the continent — potentially fleeing the ugliness that has been our 8-20 start — so I missed this game. Despite my limited access to an internet connection, however, there was one statement this week that stood out above all the rest regarding the state of the Warriors.

Another night, another loss to an average-at-best team. From looking at the box score, I’m guessing this loss rests on our defense, given that the team finally managed a decent shooting night (Jackson 8-12, Belinelli 8-16, Azubuike 6-12). Demarcus Nelson’s return might help a bit on locking down opposing guards, but I’m curious whether we’re seeing any signs of progress yet on the defensive front. Whether Don Nelson starts demanding it or the players take it upon themselves to impose it, something needs to change. It was clear when we were struggling offensively that we weren’t going to be able to outscore our opponents — the same now appears to hold true even on nights when the offense clicks.

Cohan isn’t selling, Rowell isn’t leaving, Nelson isn’t getting fired, and Jackson isn’t heading to be bench. For those looking for positive changes for this team, there’s pretty much only one hope (besides a miracle Maggette trade): Monta Ellis. As we near the end of the Ellis suspension and word continues to trickle out about his rehabilitation, there’s going to be more excitement (and desperation) that Ellis can immediately return to change the currently toxic culture. But while I’m not fan of the 48 minute studies in frustration that are our recent games, rushing Ellis back in almost the worst thing this team can do.

Saturday night against the Nuggets, Rob Kurz was the best Warrior on the floor. That’s good news for people who love bad news. The Warriors were competitive for roughly 2 minutes in the first quarter and spent most of the remaining 46 building the self esteem of our seldom used bench players. With Jackson injured and frustrated, Maggette sitting at home with a packed suitcase, Wright and Turiaf recovering from the flu, Randolph regressing, and Monta Ellis still just a note on our holiday wish lists, this one was over before it started. Nothing to see here folks, move along.

I’m not suggesting in any way whatsoever that Ronny Turiaf didn’t have the flu Friday (by all accounts he’s a complete gamer), but if he ever wanted to pick a night to play hooky, he picked a good one. Two weeks ago he fought valiantly against Yao Ming only to foul out early in the second half. The rest of the game was history, one the Warriors would have rather not repeated. Unfortunately, the Ws got a double dose of punishment this time around — two halves without Ronny to throw a body against Yao — and the results were predictably miserable. What wasn’t entirely predictable, however, was Nelson’s willingness to throw in the towel early and let the youngsters get some burn. It was a decision that salvaged a frustrating and occasionally unwatchable game. It remains to be seen whether the extra seasoning for the kids will help us salvage our season.

For those wondering when the Warriors would finally hit bottom on their most recent losing streak, it looks as if the moment came and went this weekend in between Corey Maggette’s rapid fire San Antonio misses. Monday night against the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors finally managed a win. The Ws fielded a different team, both in personnel and — not coincidentally — style. The ball moved between players, we managed to convert on a couple of fast breaks, the shot selection was generally solid, and the front line managed some at-the-rim defense. All of these improvements were much needed and appreciated. I’m happy to see the youth pull down a win, if only for their confidence and hopes of getting more time on the court. But while the win may ease the most immediate doom and gloom surrounding the team, it may have only served to add fuel to this season’s most hotly contested debates.